Before joining the Maryland women’s basketball team later this summer, Terps center signee Lynetta Kizer has business to attend to -- namely representing her country.

Kizer was one of 12 players in the country to earn a roster spot on the U.S. Under-18 Women’s Basketball National Team, USA Basketball announced earlier this week. She will suit up for the U.S. women’s team in its 2008 FIBA Americas zone qualifier July 23-27 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

"It's an honor. I can't stop smiling," said Lynetta Kizer, who hails from Woodbridge, Va., when asked what it meant to make the U.S. team. "... It's an honor to have the opportunity to go out there and to follow in the footsteps of all those [great] players that came before us and to represent the USA."

• The country‘s top-ranked player for the class of 2009, Sugar Land, Texas center Kelsey Bone, told The Connecticut Post she “hopes to narrow her list of schools to seven to 10 by month's end.”

Bone said she is "very interested" in UConn and Tennessee at this point. She also has interest in Maryland, Texas, Rutgers, Oklahoma, Illinois, South Carolina and North Carolina.

Bone averaged 18.8 points and 8.8 rebounds in leading Dulles High to a 34-5 record and a trip to the state Class 5A Region III semifinals last season.

Men’s basketball recruiting

• CSTV.com is impressed with UM shooting guard signee Sean Mosley, but less than enthused about the Terps’ one-man ‘08 class, ranking it the No. 12 group in the ACC.

Overview: Recently loss 6-foot-10 transfer Augustus Gilchrist who was released from scholarship after being unable to regain his full four years of eligibility and recent signee 6-foot-3 juco Tyree Evans who opted out after negative reports surfaced on his past brushes with the authorities. Biggest losses appear to be inside in 6-foot-9 James Gist and 6-foot-8 Bambale Osby, so loss of Gilchrist really hurt. Terps hope Braxton Dupree or a late signee can help fill that void next fall. Look for signee Mosley to add some instant offense off the bench.

• Andre Dawkins, a 2010 shooting guard, remains a high priority for Maryland. The Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer notes that the Terps are putting in a lot of early effort.

According to Scout.com, Maryland and Clemson are the two schools recruiting Dawkins the hardest with Duke, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest also in pursuit. Dawkins, from Virginia Beach, Va., grew up as a Duke fan but has said that won’t play a major role in his college decision.

Football recruiting

• The Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer caught up with new Terps quarterback commitment Danny O’Brien this week, and gave credit to UM tight ends coach Danny Pearman for his role in O’Brien’s recruitment.

Pearman played an instrumental role for Maryland in gaining the commitment from O’Brien. He’s a well-known and well-liked figure among many North Carolina high school coaches. Although he’s in just his first season with Maryland, Pearman has recruited the Tar Heel state for years, first for eight seasons as an assistant at Virginia Tech, then the last two while working at North Carolina and Duke.

• Pennsburg, Pa., cornerback Abdul Smith told Scout.com this week that Maryland is his early favorite.

"Maryland always seem to go to bowl games," he said. "And they need defensive backs, so it would be a good opportunity to play early."

Another plus for the Terps is their location. Smith attends boarding school in Pennsylvania, but lives in New Jersey (about one and half hours away) with his dad. His mom, however, lives in North Carolina. "Maryland is pretty much right in between my mom and my dad," he said.

• Maryland offensive tackle signee R.J. Dill will suit up for Pennsylvania this weekend in the Big 33 All-Star game against Ohio. PennLive.com previews the Pennsylvanians.

RJ Dill, Camp Hill Trinity HS - Dill, a 285-pound monster on the line, helped pave the way for a 12-0 start to Trinity's 2007 season. The Shamrocks finished as District 3 "AA" runners-up last season.

• The Washington Times’ Patrick Stevens says the news of Pha’Terrell Washington’s academic ineligibility will likely open the door for one of Maryland’s two running back signees to receive early playing time.

With Washington out of the tailback equation, it's a virtual certainty that the first true freshman Ralph will mention when asked about playing time will be either Gary Douglas or Davin Meggett. Those two are expected to join sophomores Da'Rel Scott and Morgan Green as the Terrapins' only scholarship tailbacks next season.

• Penn State’s had a solid start to recruiting this year, most notably in the state of Maryland. The Philadelphia Inquirer took a look at the Nittany Lions’ approach to recruiting -- specifically in handling “the Paterno issue.”

Defensive-line coach Larry Johnson, one of the team's best recruiters, has been partly responsible for eight commitments, with most of the players from Maryland. According to several, Johnson has assured them that Paterno's successor will be in-house.

"He said [Paterno's] going to coach for as long as he can," said Derrick Thomas, a cornerback from Greenbelt, Md. "If this year would happen to be his last, someone on the staff would get the head coaching job."

• Tuscarora cornerback Dominic Clarke, who sported a Terps offer, committed to Ohio State on Sunday.

"Never, in my wildest dreams, did I ever think I would be playing football at Ohio State," Clarke, who was recruited as a cornerback, said on Monday. "I didn't used to have a favorite college football team, but I do now."

• WashingtonPost.com’s latest Recruiting Spotlight video looks at Woodbridge, Va., running back De'Antwan Williams, who claims offers from Maryland, Alabama, Boston College, Rutgers, Virginia and West Virginia, according to the Post. Click here to see the video.